24 Hours For The Lord - Pope Francis Encourages Global Participation

For the second year the Holy Father has welcomed the 24 Hours For The Lord initiative to be celebrated during this year's Lent.

This year the special time for prayer and confessions will take place on Friday, 13 March and Saturday, 14 March.

The Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation has said the theme this year that will guide the reflection is God rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4)

Churches around the world, including the Archdiocese of Sydney, have been asked where possible to dedicate a full 24 hours to the Sacrament of Reconciliation ensuring the initiative coincides with Eucharistic Adoration.

Prior to the initiative last year Pope Francis had often repeated that going to Confession is not like a torture chamber.

Pope is encouraging confession with 24 Hours For The Lord

He said at an audience - "you turn red once, you're absolved of your sins, and you move on".

The Pontifical Council of the New Evangelisation wanted to reinforce that statement and when the first 24 Hours For The Lord was introduced it was received with great enthusiasm with many people taking advantage of churches being open around-the-clock for Reconciliation and Adoration.

Once again in Rome Pope Francis will preside at a penitential celebration- "a celebration of forgiveness" - in St Peter's Basilica in order to place the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the centre of the Church's mission of the new evangelisation.

Pope Francis himself at confession

This year Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 18 February and goes through to Thursday, 2 April.

24 Hours For The Lord on March 13-14 falls in the fourth week.

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese will have further news closer to the date.

Below is a video announcing the first 24 Hours For The Lord 2014Shared from Archdiocese of Sydney

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has encouraged fathers to be a daily example of love and integrity for their children.

Addressing the pilgrims gathered in the Paul VI Hall for the weekly General Audience, the Pope continued his catechesis on the family, reflecting in particular on the dignity and role of fathers.

Referring to the Book of Proverbs which speaks of the joy and pride which fathers feel as they see their children mature in wisdom and rectitude , the Pope said these words sum up the demanding but indispensable role of fathers in the family and in society as a whole.

Pointing out that a good father must discipline his own heart in order to deal patiently with his children in their growth to maturity, he said fathers teach their children by giving a daily example of love and integrity.

And lamenting the fact that in our society father figures are often absent, Pope Francis said it is essential for fathers to be present and fully engaged in the life of the family.

The Pope said that Jesus points to God our Father as the model of all fatherhood, and that like the father of the prodigal son, God waits patiently for his children to return home, and with mercy and forgiveness he is always there to welcome them back whenever they stray.

Expressing gratitude and support to all Christian fathers, he encouraged them to strive, like Saint Joseph, to protect their children and to teach them wisdom, faith and integrity.

Asia News report: Jordan executes two jihadists. The Islamic State posts video of air force pilot burned aliveSajida al-Rishawi was convicted for involvement in a 2005 attack that left 60 dead. Ziad al-Karboli, a member of al Qaeda, had been convicted in 2007 for killing a Jordanian national. The cruelty of the video of the killing of the young air force pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh. Criticism of King Abdullah for his participation in the US-led coalition.

Amman (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Jordanian government carried two dawn executions this morning of two jihadists, in response to the video released yesterday that confirmed the killing of one of its pilot, burned alive by the Islamic State (IS).The two prisoners who were on death row are Iraqis: Sajida al-Rishawi, a woman of 44 in prison for her (failed) attempt to blow herself up in a multiple attack that killed 60 people in 2005; Ziad al-Karboli, a member of al Qaeda, was convicted in 2007 for killing a Jordanian.The executions seem to be part of the plans for vengeance that will "shake the earth", as promised a government spokesman, after the release of the video of the murder of 26 year old pilot Maaz al-Kassasbeh, captured by the Islamic State after his F-16 aircraft crashed in Syria last December.In recent days, the IS had tried to exchange the release of Sajida al-Rishawi with the Japanese hostage Kenji Goto, who was later beheaded. Jordan had proposed the release of Rishawi in exchange for the release of the Japanese and the Jordanian pilot, demanding proof he was still alive.

Yesterday state media reported that Kassasbeh was killed in early January.The video released by the IS is one of the cruelest ever posted by the Islamic terrorist organization. It shows Kassasbeh dressed in orange jumpsuit locked in a metal cage. A masked man, claiming to be "the emir of a region bombed by the coalition of crusaders", takes a torch, setting alight a line of fuel which leads into the cage where the prisoner clothes - soaked with gasoline, caught fire, turning the young man into a human torch. At the end a bulldozer then flattens the cage, with the body still inside.Kassasbeh was a second lieutenant, who had graduated from the aviation school dedicated to King Hussein and had recently married.

Jordan is one of five Arab countries to have joined the coalition led by the United States to fight the IS in Syria and Iraq.

King Abdullah of Jordan, who was visiting the United States, hastened his return to his homeland. He praised Kassasbeh describing him as a "martyr" and urged Jordanians to "be united" in the face of adversity.

Among Jordanians there are many critics of the Kingdom's taking part in the anti-IS coalition. In addition, the exaltation of "Islamic" caliphate puts Jordanians - and the Arab world - in front of the dilemma between loyalty to a violent and anti-Western Islam and a struggle against terrorism.

King Abdullah has defended the campaign from domestic criticism, saying that moderate Muslims need to combat a group whose ideology and brutality have insulted Islam.

2015

Novena to Our Lady of LourdesO ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners,comfort of the afflicted, thou knowest my wants, my troubles, my sufferings.Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes,thou wert pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence thou dispenses thy favors,and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal.I come, therefore, with unbounded confidence, to implore thy maternal intercession.Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests.(make your request)I will endeavor to imitate thy virtues, that I may one day share thy glory, and bless thee in eternity. Amen.O MARY, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.O BLESSED be the Holy and Immaculate Conception of the most blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.HOLY Virgin Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and our Mother,speak thou for us to the Heart of Jesus, Who is thy Son.OUR Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!Amen.++++++++++

Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 325

Reading 1HEB 12:4-7, 11-15

Brothers and sisters:In your struggle against sinyou have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lordor lose heart when reproved by him;for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;he scourges every son he acknowledges.Endure your trials as “discipline”;God treats you as his sons.For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousnessto those who are trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.Make straight paths for your feet,that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

Strive for peace with everyone,and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,through which many may become defiled.

Responsorial PsalmPS 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18A

R. (see 17) The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.Bless the LORD, O my soul;and all my being, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul,and forget not all his benefits.R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.As a father has compassion on his children,so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,For he knows how we are formed;he remembers that we are dust.R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.But the kindness of the LORD is from eternityto eternity toward those who fear him,And his justice toward children’s childrenamong those who keep his covenant.R. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

AlleluiaJN 10:27

GospelMK 6:1-6

Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples.When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,and many who heard him were astonished.They said, “Where did this man get all this?What kind of wisdom has been given him?What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?And are not his sisters here with us?”And they took offense at him.Jesus said to them,“A prophet is not without honor except in his native placeand among his own kin and in his own house.”So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.He was amazed at their lack of faith.

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has decried the 'fratricide' conflict in Ukraine and issued an urgent appeal for dialogue, “the only possible path to peace”.

Speaking at the end of the weekly General Audience, the Pope said his thoughts go to the beloved Ukrainian people.

“Unfortunately the situation is worsening” as is the clash between the parties he said.

And asking for prayers for the victims, many of whom are civilians, and for the families, the Pope said “let us pray the Lord so that this horrible fratricide violence may cease as soon as possible”.

And Pope Francis renewed his heartfelt appeal “so that every possible effort – even at an international level – may be made for the resumption of dialogue, the only possible path for peace and harmony in that tormented land”.

And speaking off-the-cuff, Pope Francis said that when he hears the words ‘victory’ or ‘defeat’ he feels great pain, great sadness in his heart: “they are not the right words. The only right word is peace. This is the only right word” he said.

“I think of you, Ukrainian brothers and sisters, this is a war between Christians” he said.

And calling the conflict a scandal, he pointed out that all those involved in the conflict have the same baptism.

Pope Francis concluded his appeal urging all to pray, because – he said – “prayer is our protest before God in times of war”.

In the world named Eufranio Desiderio, born in 1556 at Leonessa in Umbria; died 4 February, 1612. From his infancy he showed a remarkably religious bent of mind; he used to erect little altars and spend much time in prayer before them, and often he would gather his companions and induce them to pray with him. Whilst yet a boy he used to take the discipline on Fridays in company with the confraternity of St. Saviour. He was educated by his uncle, who had planned a suitable marriage for him, but in his sixteenth year he fell sick of a fever, and on his recovery, without consulting his relative, he joined the Capuchin reform of the Franciscan Order. He made his novitiate in the convent of the Carcerelle near Assisi. As a religious he was remarkable for his great abstinence. "Brother Ass", he would say to his body, "there is no need to feed thee as a noble horse would be fed: thou must be content to be a poor ass." In 1599, the year before his Jubilee year, he fasted the whole year by way of preparation for gaining the indulgence. In 1587 he was sent by the Superior General of his order to Constantinople to minister to the Christians held captive there. Arrived there he and his companions lodged in a derelict house of Benedictine monks. The poverty in which the friars lived attracted the attention of the Turks, who went in numbers to see the new missionaries. He was very solicitous in ministering to the captive Christians in the galleys. Every day he went into the city to preach, and he was at length thrown into prison and only released at the intervention of the Venetian agent. Urged on by zeal he at last sought to enter the palace to preach before the Sultan, but he was seized and condemned to death. For three days he hung on the gallows, held up by two hooks driven through his right hand and foot; then he was miraculously released by an angel. Returning to Italy, he took with him a Greek archbishop who had apostatized, and who was reconciled to the Church on their arrival in Rome. Joseph now took up the work of home missions in his native province, sometimes preaching six or seven times a day. In the Jubilee year of 1600 he preached the Lent at Orticoli, a town through which crowds of pilgrims passed on their way to Rome. Many of them being very poor, Joseph supplied them with food; he also washed their clothes and cut their hair. At Todi he cultivated with his own hands a garden, the produce of which was for the poor. His feast is kept on 4 February throughout the Franciscan Order. He was canonized by Benedict XIV.